Should I isolate my girl?

[staceyl]

So I think I have an injured chicken. She is just sitting there in the coop. If I take her down and force her to walk (by nudging her with my toe) she walks but limps quite severely. Its been going on since Tuesday. I had the same thing happen to another chicken a few weeks ago, but she just limped and kept her normal activities, so I left her alone and she healed up just fine. However this one refuses to come out of the coop unless I make her. I've looked her over and see no signs of injury or illness so I'm thinking its some kind of strain or bruise. For the first couple of days I just left her in there with some food and water and she seemed to do okay, but now it looks like my other two have gone after her comb. I actually caught one doing in this morning and she got a little "toe nudge" for her troubles. The injuries to the comb aren't severe and when I saw the one get her this morning it wasn't terribly violent - more like a nip to say "hey wny aren't you coming foraging with us". I could put in her a box in the shop or just leave her in the coop. Its not terribly cold out, so the only advantage to seperating her would be to protect her from her friends and then I have the problem of reintroduction, assuming she gets better. What do you all think?

Stacey

 

[PandoraTaylor]

retroduction: put her to roost after all have gone to roost at night.

I would isolate:
1) you can check her food, water intake
2)You can check her poop easier if you are only looking at isolated cage/box


I would also treat her with:
Electrolytes in her water
extra Protein

for a day or two and see how she does.

 

[lauralou]

I agree.

I would isolate her too. For her own protection, and for easier observation.

Poor little thing. I hope she recovers quickly.

 

[staceyl]

Well she is actually roosting tonight with everyone else and seems a bit better. So I guess I'm not going to listen to you all, becuase I think the time when I should have isolated her is probably past at this piont. Actually my chickens don't go into their coop except to sleep and lay (which they did not bother to do today) so in a way she is isolated. And I do know that she is eating and drinking and pooping because I saw all three today.
Hoping that she makes a full recovery!
Thanks for the advice. I WILL add some protein tomorrow. Do you think a can of beans would be good? Not many options on Christmas.

Stacey

 

[lauralou]

Hey Stacey,

That's what's so great about the advice you get here on BYC. You can take it or leave it!

That's what we should all do. Listen to the advice, but use our own judgement. You are the one who is there looking at the bird, and I have no doubt that you know what is best for your girl.

I'm really not sure about feeding beans. I have read that beans are bad for chickens, but I don't know if that is only true of raw beans. Possibly cooked beans are okay??? I just don't know. My motto is: If in doubt, don't.

How about turkey scraps? My birds love it when I feed them meat. I'm thinking that ham would be awfully salty for them. Depending on what kind, I guess. Yogurt is always a good treat. And cooked oatmeal. I doubt that either have much protein. But the birds certainly enjoy them.

Or just don't worry about the extra protein right now if you don't have anything that seems like a good choice. As long as she is eating, drinking, and pooping, she's doing fine.

Merry Christmas to you!

 

[kevinkeb4]

I have another hen doing the same thing.Could it be that I have 2 roos and 2 hens left,so they may be getting too much....."Action"..The other one a month ago,died by the time i really noticed.She couldn't walk and the roo was still on top of her,so ,could that be why that one died and this one is like,lame...I had 3 hens and 2 roos,now,2 and 2,so should I seperate them,they're in a heated coop.

 

[debtrag]

I believe that 1 roo is too much for 2 hens. You need to separate them. Hens/Roos 2 different pens. I'd say for 2 roos you would need 20 hens.